Axle-clutch.



R. C. FEILE. AXLE CLUTCH. APPLIUATION FILED MAR. 25,"1909.

967,006. Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

I F I UNTTED STATES PATENT oEEioE.

ROBERT C. FEILE, OIE REEDSVI'LLE, WISCONSIN.

Arita-CLUTCH,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 25, 1909. Serial No. 485,624.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT C. FEILE, of Reedsville, Wisconsin, have invented an Axle-Clutch, of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to driving clutches or devices of that class which are used for connecting a drivingwith a driven element in such manner that the driving elementcan drive the driven element 1n either direction, i

but the latter cannot act in anyway 4upon the former and is free to overrunthe drive or to move independently of thejdriving element when not being driven. Such devices are especially applicable to the wheels of motorvehicles, where it is desirable to allow the wheels to run free at times w-hen the motor is standing still, to enable one Wheel to overrun the other as when turning a corner, and to enable such action to take place in either the forward or backward direction.

'Ihe object of my invention is to provide a device of maximum simplicity and strength which shall be able to accomplish the desired results with greater perfection tha anything heretofore constructed. In my invention I utilize the bearing-friction between one of the clut`ch-elements and the supporting journal for the axle to effect a positive engagement between the clutchelements, and in like manner for disengaging the clutcli-elements when it is desired that the wheel shall run free. My invention is best understood by a concrete illustration thereof, -which is'givenv in the accompanying drawings, reference beinghad to the following description thereof.

In these drawings Figure 1 is a longitudif. nal section through the vhub of a wheel provided with my clutch-device, and Figs. 2 and 3 are transverse sections on the plane 2, showing the clutch in the driving and looseruiining positions, respectively. l

In these drawings every reference letter and numeral refers always to the same part. My invention comprises in its essentials,

the two clutchfelements A and B, each loosely mounted to rotate upon the drivingaxle C; the toothed collar D which is fixed to the axle in any suitable manner as by a pin E; and the clutch pawl F, which is pivoted upon a pin a' carried on the face of the clutch-disk A, and has a tooth y" which en gages between two teeth d formed on the collar'D. A s appears from the drawings,

ving the space between the two members and the clutch-disk B forms the driven element, i

in this case the hub of a wheel G, whoseV Patented Aug. 9,1910.`

spokes are attached thereto, and thetwo clutch-elements are confined against endwis'e play by a shoulder c at one end and a ter-- minal nut H at the other, which latter is" protected from the turning action of the wheel by a washer I. The clutch-member B is provided with a marginal flange b inclosthus keeping out dust, and said marginal flange is provided en its inner facey with ratchetfteeth b2 in position for engagement with the pawl F when the latter is turned clutch-member A, so that a slight relative rotation betweenffthese two elements-causes the pawl F` to sliiftffroin the full to thef` dotted-line position of Fig. 2, or viceversa f in the Vformer of whichit engages thewheel-` element `1B to' drive it in one direction, 1and in the latter in ,the opposite direction while when thepawl in its center position, as shown [in Fig. 3, Vit is entirely out of en@ gagement witlithe driven element.

, To produce ,the` relative movement be tweeirthe member Afand shaft C .necessary to produce an,` engagement between the two clutchsmembers; the journal-friction of the member Ais" ldepended on. The resistance to turning' ofthe .member A is naturally somewhat greater"` than f that .of the member C withinthe `member fbecause the diameterl of `the-journal is greater.4 Hence any f driving eort in either direction" of the member C is necessarily followed by a move- V ment of thepawl F into the corresponding drivingposition; after which the two ciutch-members `and wheel are drivenftogether with the axle. effort of the axle be reversed, the pawlA F immediately changes its position to the other side, and the wheel is driven in the opposite direction, or is effectively brakedxin' Should the driving` j the direction in which it is. going. When it wis desired to allow the wheelsto run? free,it

is simply necessary to produce afslightre- "than the other where the conditions require it, as when turning a corner, by the pawl simply slippingover the ratchet teeth.

I employ no ball bearings which would tend to lessen the friction. In my device,

the journal friction -is greater between the clutch-element and the stationary bearing because yof the greater radius of distance from the axisl at which it is applied. This is' essential for the reason that it causes the clutch to act instantly as soon as the axle begins tocturn. 1

Various changes and modifications in the construction as herein shown may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I wlsh it understood therefore that the latter is not otherwise limited than by the reasonable scope of my claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination of a driving shaft, two clutch-elements mounted thereupon for free movement, one of said clutch elements having a journal and the other constituting the driven element, ratchet teeth on the driven element, a pawl pivotally mounted on the other element for engagement with said ratchet teeth, and a collar non-rotatably mounted on vsaid shaft and having means forcoperation with said pawl, and a stationary journal bearing other than the driven element receiving said journal and against which the journal of t-he driving clutch-element frictionally engages to cause the clutch to act instantly as soon as the shaft begins to turn.'

2. The combinationI of a driving axle, a clutch-element mounted thereon and having a journal, a` bearing other than the driven element in which said journal turns, a pawl Vpivotally mounted on said clutch element iand having oppositely directed noses, a

driven element rotatably mounted on said shaft and` having ratchet teeth disposed concentrically with said shaft and in position for engagement with either of the noses of said pawl whereby the latter is adapted to engage them operatively to drive the driven element in either direction, friction means 'for causinglthe clutch to act instantly upon movement of the axle and a connection between said pawl and said shaft whereby. any relative movement between said shaft and clutch-element shifts the pawl into the corresponding4 drivin position; both noses of said pawl being disengaged from said teeth when said pawl is in its middle position.

The combination of a driving shaft, a clutch-element loosely mounted thereon and having a journal, a bearing-box separate from'the driven element in which the journal turns and with which the journal of said clutch-element frictionally engages to cause instant application of the clutch upon rotation of the shaft, a second clutch-element which constitutes the driven element loosely mounted on said shaft and having a set of annular ratchet-teeth, a pawl pivotally mounted on said first clutch-element in position for engaging said ratchet teeth, and an operative connection between said pawl and shaft.

et. The combination of a driving shaft, a clutch-element loosely mounted thereon and having a journal, a bearing-box separate from the driven element in which the journal turns and with which the journal of said clutch-element frictionally engages to cause instant application of the clutch upon rotation of the shaft, a second clutch-element which constitutes the driven element loosely mounted on said shaft and having a set of annular ratchet-teeth, a doublenosed pawl pivotally mounted on said first clutch-element in position for engaging said ratchet-teeth, and an operative connection between said pawl and shaft whereby a driving effort of the shaft in either direction produces a turning of the pawl into the corresponding driving-direction.

5. The combination of a driving shaft, a clutch element loosely mounted thereon and having a lane face and a journal, a bearingbox in w ich said journal turns and with which the journal of said clutch-element friction'ally engages to cause instant application of the clutch upon rotation of the shaft, a second clutch-element which forms the driven element loosely mounted on said shaft and having a plane face opposing the said plane face of said first element and having further a marginal cylindrical flange inclosing the space between the two elements, said iiange having a pluralit of ratchetteeth on its inner face, a doub e-nosed pawl pivotally mounted on said lirst element in position for operatively engaging the said ratchet-teeth in either direction, and an operative connection between said shaft and said pawl.

6. The combination of a driving shaft, a clutch-element loosely mounted thereon and having a plane face and a journal, a bearing-box in which said journal turns and with which the journal of said clutclrelement frictionally engages to cause instant rality of ratchet-teeth on its inner face, a double-nosed pawl pivotally mounted on said first element in position for operatively engaging the said ratchet-teeth in either direction, said pawl having a projection toward said shaft, and a collar immovably mounted on said shaft and having means l :tor engaging said projection, so as to cause a turning movement of said pawl in the` opposite direction from the turning movement of said shaft.

7. The combination with a driving shaft of a journal bearing supporting the saine, a third elementloosely mounted on said shaft and havin a hub intercalated between said shaft and Journal bearing whereby the pressure of said shaft is transmitted through said hub, a driven element free from any frictional connection with and out of contact with said third element whereby it exercises no rotative tendency upon it-,ja pawl pivotally mounted on said third element and coacting with said driven element to grip the latter when slightly rotated from a predetermined position about its pivot,

' and an operative connection between said shaft and pawl adapted to rotate the latter Whenever. any rotative movement between said shaft and third element takes place.

8. The combination of a driving shaft, a clutch-element loosely mounted thereon and having a journal, a bearin box separate from the driven element an in which the journal turns and with which the Journal of said clutch-element frictionally engages to cause instant application of the clutch upon rotation of the shaft, a Second clutchelementl which constitutes the driven element loosely mounted on said shaft and having a clutch rim, a double nosed`pawl pivotally mounted on said first clutch-element in position for engaging said clutchrim, and an operative connection between said pawl and shaft, whereby a driving' effort of the shaft in eitherdirection produces a turning of the pawl into the corresponding driving direction.

In witness whereof I have" hereunto set my hand this 22nd day of March, 1909.

ROBERT Ci FEILE.

Vitnesses OLD. LINETHY, CHAS. l'fInIN.A 

